Hybrid light emitting diode tube with selectable light settings

Abstract

A tube lamp including a light source including at least one string of light emitting diodes within a tube body; end caps having pin contacts on each end of the tube body; and driver electronics including a filament detector portion provided by a passive resistance capacitor (RC) circuit that simulates the filament load of a fluorescent lamp when installed into a ballast containing fixture. The tube lamp may also include a switch for selecting light characteristics for light emitted by the light source.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lamp comprising:
 a light source including at least one string of light emitting diodes within a tube body; 
 end caps having pin contacts on each end of the tube body; 
 driver electronics including a filament detector portion provided by a passive resistance capacitor (RC) circuit that simulates the filament load of a fluorescent lamp when installed into a ballast containing fixture, the filament detector portion providing that the lamp be compatible with type A T8 lamp ballasts and drivers, type B lamps that operate on a direct line voltage of 120/277V or 347V, T12 lamp that operates with magnetic ballasts and T12 lamp that operate with electric ballasts; 
 a first switch for selecting color correlated temperature light characteristics for light emitted by the light source; 
 a second switch for selecting dimming light characteristics for light emitted by the light source; and 
 an electronic safety switch that ensures that the lamp can not be turned on unless both of the pin contacts of the end caps are inserted in to a lamp socket. 
 
     
     
       2. The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second switch for selecting light characteristics is positioned on at least one of the end caps. 
     
     
       3. The lamp of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second switch is present on an exterior sidewall of the at least one end caps. 
     
     
       4. The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the contacts have a G13 pin layout. 
     
     
       5. The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diodes are surface mount device (SMD) light emitting diodes. 
     
     
       6. The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second switch for selecting light characteristics is selected from the group consisting of a slide switch, a rocker switch, toggle switch, selector switch or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first switch selects one of at least three color correlated temperature settings for the light emitted by the light source. 
     
     
       8. The lamp of  claim 7 , wherein the at least three color correlated temperature settings for selection by the first switch is selected from the group consisting of 3000K, 4000K, 5000K and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       9. A lamp comprising:
 a light source including at least one string of light emitting diodes on a printed circuit board present within a tube body; 
 end caps having contacts with a G13 pin layout on each end of the tube body; 
 driver electronics including a filament detector portion provided by a passive resistance capacitor (RC) circuit that simulates the filament load of a fluorescent lamp when installed into a ballast containing fixture for a T12 lamp or a type A T8 lamp, the filament detector portion providing that the lamp be compatible with type A T8 lamp ballasts and drivers, type B lamps that operate on a direct line voltage of 120/277V or 347V, T12 lamp that operates with magnetic ballasts and T12 lamp that operate with electric ballasts; 
 a first switch for selecting color correlated temperature light characteristics for light emitted by the light source; 
 a second switch for selecting dimming light characteristics for light emitted by the light source; 
 and 
 an electronic safety switch that ensures that the lamp can not be turned on unless both of the pin contacts of the end caps are inserted in to a lamp socket. 
 
     
     
       10. The lamp of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second switch for selecting light characteristics is positioned on at least one of the end caps. 
     
     
       11. The lamp of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second switch is present on an exterior sidewall of the at least one end caps. 
     
     
       12. The lamp of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second switch for selecting light characteristics is selected from the group consisting of a slide switch, a rocker switch, toggle switch, selector switch or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The lamp of  claim 9 , wherein the first switch selects one of at least three color correlated temperature settings for the light emitted by the light source. 
     
     
       14. The lamp of  claim 13 , wherein the at least three color correlated temperature settings for selection by the first switch is selected from the group consisting of 3000K, 4000K, 5000K and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. A lamp comprising:
 a light source present within a tube body; 
 end caps having contacts on each end of the tube body; 
 a first switch present on a first end cap of the end caps for selecting light characteristics for light emitted by the light source, the light characteristics including at least one of color correlated temperature (CU) and color, wherein each lighting characteristic has at least three selectable settings 
 a second switch for selecting dimming light characteristics for light emitted by the light source; and 
 an electronic safety switch that ensures that the lamp can not be turned on unless both of the pin contacts of the end caps are inserted in to a lamp socket. 
 
     
     
       16. The lamp of  claim 15 , wherein the light source comprises at least one string of light emitting diodes. 
     
     
       17. The lamp of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one switch is present on an exterior sidewall of the at least one end caps. 
     
     
       18. The lamp of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one switch for selecting light characteristics is selected from the group consisting of a slide switch, a rocker switch, toggle switch, selector switch or a combination thereof.